Fragrance Glossary
A
- Absolute
- Highly concentrated aromatic oil extracted from plants or flowers.
- Accord
- A harmonious blend of multiple fragrance notes that form a single impression.
- Aldehydes
- Natural or synthetic compounds adding sparkle, lift, and airy qualities to a perfume.
- Amber
- A warm, resinous accord often created from vanilla, labdanum, and benzoin.
- Animalic
- Notes reminiscent of musk, civet, or castoreum, adding sensuality and depth.
- Aromatic
- Fresh, herbal notes like lavender, sage, or rosemary, often with camphoraceous tones.
B
- Balsamic
- Warm, sweet, resinous notes like benzoin, tolu balsam, or peru balsam.
- Base Notes
- The final, longest-lasting notes in a perfume that appear after dry-down.
- Bergamot
- Fresh, zesty citrus note from the peel of the bergamot orange.
- Bouquet
- A blend of floral notes forming a unified floral scent.
C
- Chypre
- A fragrance family with citrus top notes, floral heart, and mossy-woody base.
- Civet
- A warm, musky note traditionally sourced from civet cats (now mostly synthetic).
- Cold Throw
- The scent a candle emits when unlit (used in perfumed candles).
- Concentration
- The percentage of aromatic compounds in a perfume.
D
- Distillation
- The process of extracting essential oils through steam or hydro distillation.
- Dry-down
- The final stage of a perfume’s evolution when the base notes are most prominent.
E
- Eau de Cologne (EDC)
- A light concentration of fragrance (2–5%), fresh and short-lasting.
- Eau de Parfum (EDP)
- A richer concentration (15–20%) with more lasting power.
- Eau de Toilette (EDT)
- A moderate concentration (8–15%), lighter than EDP.
- Essential Oil
- Highly concentrated natural oil extracted from plants.
F
- Fixative
- An ingredient that slows evaporation and improves longevity.
- Flanker
- A variation of an existing fragrance, often with a twist on the original.
- Floriental
- A blend of floral and oriental notes.
- Fougere
- A fragrance family with lavender, coumarin, and oakmoss as main elements.
- Fragrance Pyramid
- The structure of top, heart, and base notes in a perfume.
G
- Galbanum
- A green, resinous note with sharp, earthy qualities.
- Gourmand
- Fragrances with edible-smelling notes like vanilla, chocolate, or caramel.
H
- Heart Notes
- The middle phase of a perfume that defines its main character.
- Hydrosol
- Aromatic water produced during essential oil distillation.
I
- Incense
- Resinous, smoky notes from frankincense, myrrh, or olibanum.
- Indole
- A compound in some white flowers, adding a deep, animalic undertone.
J
- Jasmine Absolute
- A rich, floral extract from jasmine flowers, prized in perfumery.
K
- Kashmir Wood
- A warm, woody note with soft, musky undertones.
L
- Layering
- Wearing multiple fragrances to create a personalized scent.
- Leather
- A note evoking tanned leather, smoky, or animalic accords.
- Longevity
- How long a perfume lasts on the skin.
M
- Maceration
- The resting process where perfume ingredients blend and mellow.
- Marine
- Fresh, aquatic notes reminiscent of the ocean.
- Muguet
- French term for lily-of-the-valley, a fresh floral note.
- Musk
- A soft, sensual note, originally from animals but now usually synthetic.
N
- Neroli
- A floral, citrusy note from bitter orange blossoms.
O
- Olfactory
- Relating to the sense of smell.
- Olibanum
- Another name for frankincense, a resinous, incense note.
- Oriental
- A fragrance family with warm spices, amber, and resins.
- Oud
- Resinous agarwood note, deep, smoky, and complex.
P
- Parfum
- The highest concentration (20–40%), very long-lasting.
- Patchouli
- Earthy, woody note with sweet and spicy undertones.
- Powdery
- A soft, cosmetic-like scent often from iris or violet notes.
- Projection
- How far a perfume radiates from the wearer.
Q
- Quintessence
- The purest or most perfect embodiment of a fragrance style.
R
- Resinoid
- Thick aromatic extract from plant resins.
- Rose Absolute
- A deep, rich extract from rose petals.
S
- Sillage
- The scented trail left behind by a wearer.
- Soliflore
- A perfume built to showcase a single flower note.
- Spicy
- Notes from spices like cinnamon, clove, or cardamom.
- Styrax
- A resin with sweet, balsamic aroma.
T
- Top Notes
- The initial impression of a perfume, often citrus or aromatic.
- Tuberose
- A rich, heady white floral note.
U
- Unisex
- Fragrances designed to be worn by any gender.
V
- Vanilla
- Sweet, warm note from vanilla beans or synthetic vanillin.
- Vetiver
- Earthy, smoky grass root note.
W
- Woody
- Notes from woods like cedar, sandalwood, or guaiac wood.
Y
- Ylang-Ylang
- A rich, exotic floral note with fruity and spicy facets.